Busoga MPs outline five cases against minister Namuganza

The Minister who doubles as the Bukono County MP has been summoned by the caucus and she is expected to defend herself on Friday

Minister Persis Namuganza Minister Persis Namuganza

BY Moses Kyeyune

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PARLIAMENT- The State Minister for Lands, Ms Persis Namuganza faces five cases related to her alleged “bad mouthing” of Busoga leaders.

The cases among others include; insulting the people of Kamuli by describing parts of Namutumba as filthy and unhygienic; threatening to kill the Speaker (Rebecca Kadaga); inciting Bukono voters against Ms Kadaga and belittling Mr William Gabula Nadiope IV, the Kyabazinga of Busoga.

The Minister who doubles as the Bukono County MP has been summoned by the caucus and she is expected to defend herself on Friday.

“The allegations aforesaid, as labelled and brought against you (Namuganza) are so serious, wild and peculiar in the minds of the right thinking citizens of Busoga and Uganda,” the summons read in part.

The summons were signed by Jinja Municipality MP, Mr Moses Balyeku, the Caucus vice chairperson.

Mr Balyeku told Daily Monitor that the minister was summoned to have “a cordial discussion with fellow legislators on the matters at hand.”

“We are not incriminating her; all we want is to give her a fair hearing as fellow leaders because these issues pertain leaders from our region,” he said.

Mr Balyeku, however, declined to explain what awaits the minister in case she is found guilty or if she simply chooses not to turn up.

It is alleged that Ms Namuganza, a princes from Busoga Kingdom, has on several social occasions allegedly thrown insults at the Speaker of Parliament, often referring to her “as being unqualified, unfit and improper to hold the office of a member of Parliament as Kamuli District Woman MP [and that] she (Kadaga) has outlived her usefulness in the office of the Speaker.”

It is also alleged that the minister has used similar platforms to rally voters in her constituency (Bukono County) to pelt stones at the Speaker’s convoy, while at the same time insulting the Kyabazinga as an illiterate and incapable of leading the people of Busoga.

These allegations have recently triggered mass protests within Busoga region, with over 1,000 subjects of the Kyabazinga protesting against Ms Namuganza’s alleged ferocious comments.

Attempts to get Ms Namuganza’s response to the summons and accusations remained futile, as she could not respond to this reporter’s numerous phone calls.

She was reportedly attending Women’s Day celebrations in Mityana District.

The Kingdom of Busoga recently hinted at ex-communicating Ms Namuganza, if she does not apologise.